Tube holder

ABSTRACT

A holder for a tube of a thickened liquid, including a vertical prong surrounded by a container or reservoir, all being formed as a central part or extension of an annular support.

United States Patent [191 Fooks 1 June 18, 1974 TUBE HOLDER White 222/105 2,393,103 1/1946 Groebel 222/88 2,621,971 12/1952 Zublin 222/88 3,133,310 5/1964 Yorker et a1. 3,221,939 12/1965 Brown 222/105 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 980,094 12/1950 France 222/105 Primary ExaminerStanley H. Tollberg Assistant Examiner-W. Grant Skaggs, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert W. B. Dickerson [5 7] ABSTRACT A holder for a tube of a thickened liquid, including a vertical prong surrounded'by a container or reservoir,

all being formed as a central part or extension of an annular support.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures TUBE HOLDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In numerous areas of operation material-containing tubes are used. A particular problem has existed when such a tube contains a thickened liquid, such as glue, and is used repetitively. Such difficulties include the tendency of the glue to harden, when open, and the inconvenience of periodically removing and replacing the cap. This requirement has been especially burdensome when the user has been attempting to perform other functions with one hand. Such an area of activity has been the making of models, such as modelairplanes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a general support or base. Extending upwardly therefrom is a conically configured, central prong. Annularly surrounding the prong is a cup shaped reservoir portion. The periphery of the support may also be vertically extended, to form a second reservoir area.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of the tube holder;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective of a tube positioned astride the tube holder.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Looking at all of the Figures together, it can be seen that the device is generally symmetrical, and includes a base or support portion 20, whose lower surface 21 might be positioned on a table top, or the like. While surface 21 is illustrated as being flat, it may be ridged, or covered with a high-friction material, to resist slippage.

Centrally of the device, and extending upwardlyfrom the base portion is a prong 30. The purpose of this member is at least 3-fold, i.e., to permit the puncturing of a tube end, such as the end of tube 50, to perform or assist in the support function for a tube, and to seal the open end of a tube when the tube is positioned thereon. The prong is generally conically configured and tapers from an approximate pointed tip 31 (there may be rounding thereof) to a broader bottom 32, at its juncture with base 20. This taper permits the prong to be wedged within the inner diameter of the tube opening, and thereby to seal it when the tube is not being used.

Surrounding the prong is an annular raised lip 40, which forms a cup, and is also joined at its lower edge to base 20. FIGS. 1 and 20 illustrate the fact that an annular cavity 41, forming a cup, is formed between the inner wall of lip 40 and the outer surface of prong 30. This generally forms a reservoir or container area for excess fluid, such as glue, that may leak or be extruded from tube 50. It is also possible that it may perform some guiding and support function for the tube.

The outer periphery of base 20 is vertically extended to form wall or lip 22, a concave dish 23 being formed intermediate such lip and lip 40. Although this cavity is not essential for the functioning of the tube holder portion, it does permit the storage and/or placement of other items, such as pins. The existence of lip 40 as a barrier between dish 23 and cavity 41 provides a barrier so as to resist contamination of such items with the tube excretion.

The operation of the invention is obvious. A tube may be punctured and positioned by pushing its end upon and around prong 30. The taper will tend to prevent leakage of the contents. Any such user, such as a model builder may keep the tube close at hand, sealed, and without the necessity of continually screwing and unscrewing the cap. Additional items may be stored within dish 23, without being contaminated. The base may be broad enough to provide adequate support, although it certainly is within contemplation that the device may be compacted sufficiently so as to serve as a shipping and permanent tube cap. Although only a single embodiment has been described, numerous modifications would be possible by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is intended to be limited only by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A tube positioning device comprising a base portion;

tube positioning means extending perpendicular from said base, said means including a. an annular wall member positioned centrally of said base portion, said wall member forming a cavity, and

' b. a combination tube puncturing and tube sealing prong positioned centrally of said cavity, the tip of said prong extending beyond said wall member whereby a tube may encounter said prong tip prior to entering said cavity; and a lip extending around the approximate peripheral edge of said base portion, outwardly of said wall member,

' forming a storage area intermediate said lip and said wall member.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the upper surface of said base, intermediate said lip and said prong is concave for a substantial portion thereof. 

1. A tube positioning device comprising a base portion; tube positioning means extending perpendicular from said base, said means including a. an annular wall member positioned centrally of said base portion, said wall member forming a cavity, and b. a combination tube puncturing and tube sealing prong positioned centrally of said cavity, the tip of said prong extending beyond said wall member whereby a tube may encounter said prong tip prior to entering said cavity; and a lip extending around the approximate peripheral edge of said base portion, outwardly of said wall member, forming a storage area intermediate said lip and said wall member.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the upper surface of said base, intermediate said lip and said prong is concave for a substantial portion thereof. 